Poinsettia plant named ‘WEL20390’

ABSTRACT

A new poinsettia plant particularly distinguished by having red bracts with large white spots, with more variance in spot size and an earlier appearance of the spots, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Euphorbia puicherrima.

Variety denomination: ‘WEL20390’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of poinsettia, botanically known as Euphorbia puicherrima and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘WEL20390’. ‘WEL20390’ was discovered in November 2018 as a branch mutation from the poinsettia plant ‘WEL19375’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,759) in Kerken, Germany.

In December 2018, vegetative cuttings of the mutation plant ‘WEL20390’ were first propagated in Kerken, Germany. ‘WEL20390’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings in Kerken, Germany.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Red bracts with white spots;     -   2. Larger white spots on the bracts;     -   3. More variance in spot size on the bracts; and     -   4. An earlier appearance of the spots.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new poinsettia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows an overall view of the plant. The photograph is of a plant approximately twelve-weeks-old grown indoors Stuttgart, Germany in December 2020. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘WEL20390’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on plants 20 weeks from potting, grown indoors in Stuttgart, Germany under greenhouse conditions in December of 2020. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Euphorbiaceae.         -   Species.—Euphorbia pulcherrima.         -   Common name.—Poinsettia.         -   Variety.—‘WEL20390’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Male.—None.         -   Female.—Branch mutation from the commercial variety             ‘WEL19375’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,759). -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Triangular.         -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Height.—23.0 cm to 25.0 cm.         -   Width.—28.0 cm to 35.0 cm.         -   Average number of inflorescences per plant.—5 to 6.         -   Keeping quality.—Very good.         -   Blooming habit.—Intermittent.         -   Flowering response time.—Approximately 56 days.         -   Disease and pest resistance.—None observed. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cuttings.—Apical cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—4 weeks.         -   Rooting habit and root color.—Freely branching and white. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Color.—Close to RHS N138B on lower quarter and close to RHS             59A on upper three quarters.         -   Length.—20.0 cm to 22.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.5 cm to 4.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm to 0.8 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.         -   Number of lateral branches per plant.—5 to 6.         -   Texture.—Smooth. -   Leaves:     -   -   Quantity.—5 to 6 per lateral branch.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Number of lobes on the leaf blade.—0 to 3 (please note that             more than 95% of the leaves have no lobes).         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Mostly entire.         -   Length.—7.0 cm to 12.0 cm.         -   Width.—5.0 cm to 7.0 cm.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Vein color.—Upper surface: Transparent. Lower surface: Close             to RHS 184D.         -   Variegation.—Absent, but main vein (middle vein) has strong             coloration (RHS 184A) secondary vein: RHS 184D, tertiary             vein: same color as lower surface of leaves (close to RHS             N138B).         -   Venation pattern.—Reticulate.         -   Color.—Mature foliage: Upper surface: between RHS 139A and             RHS N189A. Lower surface: close to RHS N138B. Immature             foliage: Upper surface: RHS 139A. Lower surface: RHS N138B.         -   Leaf petiole.—Length: 2.0 cm to 3.0 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm to             0.3 cm. Color: Upper (part) surface: RHS 59A. Lower (part)             surface: RHS 59A. Texture: Smooth. Strength: Medium. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant.—4 weeks.         -   Natural flowering season.—End of November.         -   Diameter.—18.0 cm to 21.0 cm.         -   Height.—Approximately 3.0 cm.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Bracts:     -   -   Number of bracts per inflorescence.—12 to 16.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Slightly serrate, young bracts mostly entire.         -   Size.—Length: 4.0 cm to 10.0 cm. Width: 3.0 cm to 7.0 cm.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Venation pattern.—Reticulate.         -   Vein color.—Upper surface: RHS 184A. Lower surface: RHS             184A.         -   Bract color.—Upper surface: 18-1760 (the Pantone Book of             Color; published 1990; page 63; no close color in RHS             available) with irregular spots colored RHS NN155A. Lower             surface: 18-1760 (the Pantone Book of Color; published 1990;             page 63; no close color in RHS available) with irregular             spots colored RHS NN155A.         -   Bract petiole.—Length: 0.5 cm to 2.0 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm to             0.3 cm. Color: Upper (part) surface: RHS 59A. Lower (part)             surface: RHS 184A. Texture: Smooth. Strength: Medium. -   Cyme:     -   -   Diameter.—1.5 cm to 3.0 cm.         -   Cyathia number per inflorescence.—7 to 8.         -   Deformation of glands of the cyathium.—Absent.         -   Timing of opening of cyathia.—Opens end of November,             duration 1^(st) pollen in parallel to opening of nectar             cups, stigma appears 2 weeks later.         -   Cyathium.—Shape: Ovate. Diameter: 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm. Length:             0.5 cm to 0.7 cm. Color: Lower part: RHS 141D. Upper part:             18-1760 (the Pantone Book of Color; published 1990; page 63;             no close color in RHS available).         -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 141D with reddish stripes (close to RHS             184D). Length: 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm to             0.15 cm. Texture: Smooth. Strength: Medium to strong.         -   Nectar cups.—Number: 1 per cyathium. Diameter: 0.1 cm.             Length: 0.4 cm to 0.5 cm. Color: Close to RHS 28A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen quantity.—10 to 20 per cyathium.         -   Stamen shape.—Ovate.         -   Filament length.—0.2 cm.         -   Filament color.—18-1760 (the Pantone Book of Color;             published 1990; page 63; no close color in RHS available).         -   Pollen quantity.—Moderate.         -   Pollen color.—Close to RHS 9C.         -   Gynoecium.—Not observed. -   Fruit and seed set: Not observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘WEL20390’ is distinguished from its mutation parent which is also the closest commercial line as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental and Commercial Line Variety Mutation parent Characteristic ‘WEL20390’ ‘WEL19375’ Size of spots Larger Smaller Variance of More variance Less variance spots in size in size Time of first Approximately Approximately appearance of seven days earlier seven days later spots

COMPARISON WITH SIMILAR VARIETY

Applicant respectfully submits that there are no commercially similar varieties available for comparison other than the female mutation parent. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of poinsettia plant named ‘WEL20390’ as shown and described herein. 